European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela is scheduled to visit Hanoi from March 23-25 to strengthen economic cooperation and promote new European investments in Vietnam under the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy.
According to the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, the visit aims to support job creation and sustainable economic growth through increased EU investment, particularly in clean energy and sustainable transport.
During his trip, Commissioner Síkela is to attend the EU–Vietnam Global Gateway Business and Investment Forum on March 24, which will bring together policymakers, investors and business leaders from both sides to explore new opportunities for trade and investment.
“Vietnam is an ambitious country with a fast-growing economy, a young population and enormous potential,” said Síkela. “Together, we want to create new economic opportunities for young people and build a more sustainable economy through investments in clean energy and modern transport. With Global Gateway, we are bringing European companies and investors to Vietnam to turn this ambition into concrete projects that create jobs and support the country’s clean transition”.
At the forum, the Commissioner and representatives of the European private sector are expected to announce new EU investment initiatives in Vietnam, focusing on clean energy and sustainable transport — two priority areas under the Global Gateway strategy.
These initiatives will also support Vietnam’s commitments under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which the EU co-leads with international partners, reported VOV.
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| EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela is to visit Vietnam from March 23-25 to boost Global Gateway investment. (Photo: EU Delegation to Vietnam) |
The forum is expected to strengthen economic ties between Europe and Vietnam while supporting the country’s transition toward a sustainable and digital economy. It will also showcase potential projects and facilitate long-term partnerships between European and Vietnamese businesses.
The visit will take place under the Team Europe approach. Commissioner Síkela will be accompanied by Nicola Beer, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, along with a delegation of European companies seeking investment opportunities in Vietnam, particularly in sustainable transport infrastructure.
Global Gateway is the EU's positive offer to reduce the worldwide investment disparity and boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems.
Global Gateway is the European Union’s flagship strategy aimed at reducing the global investment gap by supporting smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, while strengthening health, education and research systems worldwide.
Through the initiative, the EU and its member states aim to mobilise up to EUR400 billion in public and private investments between 2021 and 2027.
Ho Chi Minh City leverages brand heritage to boost tourism
As the tourism sector is striving to meet the targets set in the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Development Plan to 2030, connecting “brand heritage” is emerging as a "key" to creating distinctive tourism products. Municipal authorities are therefore seeking to integrate historical, industrial and technological elements with experiential learning to develop new destinations for both domestic and international visitors.
According to Nguyen Huu An, Deputy Head of the Tourism Resource Planning and Development Division under the municipal Department of Tourism, the sector is under pressure to diversify tourism services and introduce unique products to support the city’s goal of achieving double-digit growth in 2026. In response, the department has conducted surveys to explore industrial tourism experiences, aiming to turn long-standing brand heritage into products with high economic value.
To realize this model, close coordination among manufacturers, travel firms and tourism experts is required. Developing industrial tourism is expected not only to boost tourism revenue but also to help preserve and promote the value of long-established Vietnamese brands. It also contributes to shaping the locality as a destination for entertainment and leisure while strengthening its image as a hub of knowledge, heritage and sustainable innovation, cited VNA.
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| The Saigon Central Post Office in downtown Ho Chi Minh City draws international visitors. (Photo: HVNA) |
A survey of Vissan Joint Stock Company identified the company as a potential industrial tourism site thanks to its more than 55-year history closely linked to the city’s urban life. With modern production processes, well-developed infrastructure and a wide range of branded products, the facility could become an attractive destination for educational tours and culinary experiences.
Similarly, cultural spaces and technological landmarks in Dong Hung Thuan and Trung My Tay wards are being assessed for their potential to form new tourism products. Tourism enterprises participating in field surveys have noted that the north-western area of the city still holds an underexplored “reservoir” of tourism resources, including historical relics, cultural sites and distinctive destinations that could form the basis for new tourism products if properly invested.
Among notable sites is Quang Trung Software Park, a symbol of innovation and technological development that offers a different perspective on tourism compared with traditional historical attractions. Experts suggested that building interconnected tourism routes linking these destinations with neighbouring areas would be more effective than developing individual sites in isolation.
Travel firms have also proposed designing package tours that combine industrial tourism with visits to historical landmarks, thereby creating more appealing travel itineraries. However, for industrial facilities to become tourism products, infrastructure upgrades such as separate visitor pathways, heritage exhibition areas and interactive culinary spaces are needed to ensure professional experiences without disrupting production activities.
Meanwhile, Saigontourist Group has conducted surveys in Dau Tieng commune and surrounding areas to assess tourism potential, infrastructure conditions and service capacity. Sites such as Dau Tieng lake, Cau mountain, Thai Son pagoda and a historical exhibition on French-era rubber plantations were evaluated for their potential to support new tourism products and expand the city’s tourism space.
Local authorities said that following administrative restructuring in 2025, Dau Tieng commune now has favourable conditions to develop eco-tourism, resort tourism and nature-based experiences. Surveys carried out since early 2026 have opened up prospects for forming new tourism products and promoting inter-district tourism routes through cooperation among the Department of Tourism, businesses and local administrations.
These efforts are expected to create new opportunities for more professional tourism planning at ward and commune levels, contributing to destination development and human resource training to meet the needs of both domestic and international visitors.
Hanoi, HCM City among world’s 50 best cities to visit in 2026: Time Out
In its 10th annual ranking, Time Out surveyed more than 24,000 residents across 150 cities, asking residents questions in 42 languages.
Participants were asked about dozens of factors shaping urban life, including food, nightlife, culture, affordability, happiness, community and overall city vibe.
The results were combined with insights from Time Out's global network of more than 100 city experts, creating a ranking designed to capture the places that locals say offer the best urban experiences today.
Holding the 25th position, the capital city of Hanoi was described as "still – just – favours the former, but is also in the grip of a staggering transformation".
The city received a high affordability rating, with 62 percent of Hanoi residents saying it was cheap to eat out and 80 percent saying the same for grabbing a coffee. Seventy-three percent of locals in Hanoi recommend the food scene, 67 percent rate nightlife highly and 72 percent say it's easy to make friends in the city.
Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City, ranked at 38th, scored exceptionally well for food (with 75 percent of locals rating it highly) and nightlife (with a 70 percent approval score). And it's no doubt a feel-good city, with locals reporting a 75 percent overall happiness score and the same percentage saying it's easy to make friends.
In 2025, Hanoi welcomed more than 33.7 million visitors, up 20.8 percent from 2024. International arrivals exceeded 7.82 million, a 22.7 percent year-on-year increase. Total tourism revenue was estimated at more than VND134.46 trillion (about US$5.1 billion), a 21.5 percent rise year on year.
Ho Chi Minh City's tourism sector has maintained positive momentum in 2025, recording about 8.56 million international visitors, 45.6 million domestic tourists, and revenue of VND278 trillion.
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